Free backlink checker: is your link still live, and does Google see it?
Enter the page where your backlink should be and the page it should point to. In a few seconds you see whether the link is there, whether it is dofollow or nofollow, the anchor text, what the page's robots and canonical tags say, whether the page itself is still up, and whether Google has the page in its index. No sign-up.
Want this link watched every day? Create a free account. 10 backlinks are free, and you get an alert the day one breaks. Index Watch is included from Starter.
Questions people ask about checking backlinks
How do I check if a backlink is still live?
Paste the linking page into the first box and your page into the second, then press Check my backlink. We open the page the way a browser would and look for a link to your URL. "Live" means the page loaded and the link is in it; we also show the attributes that decide whether the link is worth anything.
How do I know if a backlink is dofollow or nofollow?
The result shows the link's rel attribute. nofollow, sponsored or ugc tells search engines not to count the link the normal way.
Both kinds send visitors; only a dofollow link passes authority.
Why did my backlink disappear?
Usually the post was edited, the page was deleted or moved, the site was redesigned, or the domain expired. With paid links, some sellers quietly remove or nofollow them a few months after delivery. Check important placements regularly, and keep dated proof of when they were live.
What does "can't verify" mean?
The site blocked our request (403, captcha), timed out, or builds its links with JavaScript so the raw HTML has none. We never call that "lost": we only report a lost link when the page loaded and the link is really gone.
What does "page gone" mean?
The page returns 404 or 410, is parked or listed for sale, shows a hosting placeholder, or redirects to a different domain. The link may still be in your records, but it is not working for you.
Does a noindex page or a canonical tag affect my backlink?
Yes. A page marked noindex is not in Google, so links on it carry little value, and a canonical pointing to another URL tells Google that page is the real one. We show both for every check.
Is the page in Google's index?
A link on a page Google has not indexed passes nothing, no matter how good the page looks. Index Watch in a paid account tells you when the page gets indexed and alerts you if it ever drops out.
How often should I check my backlinks?
Daily, if they matter to you. A free account monitors up to 10 backlinks every day and alerts you by email, Telegram, Slack or webhook; paid plans go up to 20,000 links.
Is there a limit on this free checker?
10 checks per hour from one address. An account has no such limit on its own links.